CLEARWATER, Fla. — Juan Molina-Salles, an illegal immigrant from Honduras, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to charges related to a hit-and-run that resulted in the death of Pinellas County Deputy Michael Hartwick.
The tragic incident occurred in September 2022, when Deputy Hartwick was providing security at a construction site along I-275. Dash and body cam footage shown in court revealed the deputy exiting his vehicle when he was struck and killed by a front-end loader driven by Molina-Salles. After the collision, Molina-Salles fled the scene, prompting a nine-hour manhunt. He was later found and arrested.
Molina-Salles, who had previously entered the U.S. illegally, was also arrested at the border before. At the time of the crash, he had been operating the heavy machinery and did not call for help despite having access to a phone. Prosecutors argued that his failure to seek assistance for Deputy Hartwick compounded the tragedy.
During the hearing, Molina-Salles expressed remorse, explaining that he fled because he feared no one would believe his actions were an accident. He admitted his guilt and will face deportation back to Honduras after serving his sentence.
As part of his sentence, Molina-Salles will also be required to pay fines, restitution, and have his U.S. driver’s license revoked permanently.
